From Dublin: Grange Stone Circle Ireland Ancient and Celtic Sites

About This Tour

This is a proper day out into Ireland’s ancient past - the kind of tour that takes you well beyond the usual circuit. You’ll visit the Rock of Dunamase in County Laois, the 4,000-year-old Grange Stone Circle, the extraordinary prehistoric landscape around Lough Gur in County Limerick, and the historic town of Kildare with its deep connections to Saint Brigid. It’s a full 9 to 10 hours, and the pace is deliberately unhurried.

Because it’s private, your driver-guide shapes the day around your interests. If you want to linger at Lough Gur or spend extra time at the stone circle, you can. The crowds at these sites are rarely a factor - most visitors never get this far from the main tourist trail - so you’ll often have the places largely to yourself.

What’s Included

• Private driver-guide
• All road taxes and charges
• Bottled water
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off
• Air-conditioned vehicle

What’s Not Included

• Lunch

Itinerary

1. Rock of Dunamase - Rising from a limestone outcrop above the Laois countryside, this is one of Ireland’s most dramatic and atmospheric castle ruins. The site has over a thousand years of history behind it - from early Gaelic kings and Viking incursions to Norman lords and medieval conflict. Sweeping views stretch across the Midlands, and because it’s rarely crowded, you can take your time exploring the weathered stone walls, towers, and gatehouses. (90 min)
2. Grange Stone Circle - Hidden near Lough Gur, this is one of Ireland’s finest prehistoric monuments. Dating back more than 4,000 years to the Bronze Age, the circle is made up of massive upright stones arranged with real precision. It remains largely undisturbed by modern development, so you get a genuine sense of the place as it has always been. (90 min)
3. Wedge Tomb at Lough Gur - This late Neolithic or early Bronze Age tomb (c. 2500-2000 BC) sits within the wider sacred landscape of Lough Gur. It’s thought to be aligned with the setting sun, reflecting how important solar cycles were to the people who built it. Simple stonework, a quiet hillside setting, and that particular feeling you get when you’re somewhere that has been significant to people for thousands of years. (90 min)
4. Lough Gur - One of Ireland’s richest prehistoric landscapes, continuously settled for over 6,000 years. Stone circles, standing stones, wedge tombs, and the remains of Neolithic houses are scattered around the lake. It’s also just beautiful - rolling hills, farmland, water - a place that earns a slow walk and a bit of time to take it all in. (90 min)
5. Kildare - A historic town closely tied to Saint Brigid, one of Ireland’s patron saints, and to the early Christian monastic tradition she founded here in the 5th century. St Brigid’s Cathedral stands at the heart of the town, and the wider area connects pagan and Christian heritage in a way that’s very specific to this part of Ireland. Kildare is also home to the world-famous Irish National Stud, just outside town. (180 min)

Good to Know

• This is a private tour
• Hotel pick-up and drop-off included
• Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller
• Specialised infant seats available
• Service animals are welcome
• Not recommended for travellers with poor cardiovascular health
• Suitable for all fitness levels
• Tour operates in English and French

Local Tips

Grange Stone Circle is one of the largest and best-preserved stone circles in Ireland, yet very few people know it exists. It’s not signposted in the way that Newgrange is, and that’s partly what makes it special. When you’re standing inside the circle, it genuinely feels like a place that hasn’t been overrun - because it hasn’t. Take your time there.

Lough Gur has its own small heritage centre and visitor facilities, but the real draw is the landscape itself. The lake is a crannog site - an artificial island settlement - and the surrounding hills hold layers of history going back 6,000 years. It’s one of those places that rewards slow walking more than rushed sightseeing. Wear comfortable shoes and don’t rush the loop around the lake if time allows.

The Rock of Dunamase is best early in the day before the light flattens. Morning light across the Laois plains from the top of the rock is genuinely striking. Your driver-guide will know the best vantage points for photos and the angles that most visitors miss.

Kildare town can be explored on foot in the time allocated, but it’s worth asking your guide about St Brigid’s Cathedral specifically. The cathedral sits on the site of Brigid’s 5th-century monastery, and the round tower adjacent to it is one of the best preserved in Ireland. There’s a small entrance fee for the tower, but the view from the top is worth it.

Bring lunch or plan to pick something up in Kildare town. The tour doesn’t include food, and while your driver-guide will know good local spots, it helps to have a plan rather than searching when you’re hungry after a long morning at the sites.

Nearby on IrelandMe

• Newgrange and the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre
• Rock of Cashel Day Tour from Dublin
• Hill of Tara Private Tour